Tinoff



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

- A. KONSTANTINOFF.

GAR AXLE BOX.

No. 247,661. Patented Sept. 2'7,1881.

m WQN N 2 sheets -sheet 2.

A. KONSTANTINOFF.

(No Model.)

GAR AXLE BOX.

No. 247,661. Patented S t, 27,1881.

-- y Y e c IWII fie J w m |I| I v will e 2 j M r r M amen e I. n er m m I M e HHHHUHMQL- 4 1% UNITED STATES PATENT OEFIQE.

ALEXANDER KONSTANTINOFF, OF RSHEFF, RUSSIA.

CAR-AXLE BOX.

SPECIII?ICATION forming part of Letters Patent ITO/247,661, dated September 2'7, 1881.

7 Application filed May13, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALEXANDER KONSTAN- TINOFF, a subject of the Emperor of Russia, and residing in Rsheft', Russia, have ini'ented Improvements in Axle-Boxes for Railway and otherVehicles,of which thefollowingisa specification.

The object of my invention is to so construct an axle-box with an oil-reservoir that the axle will be automatically lubricated,requiring but little attention, and that the amount ofoil in the reservoir can be readily ascertained at any time, and, further, that the interior of the axle may be protected from rain ,dust, or sand.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 isa vertical section on the line A B O D, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of-the box; Fig. 3, a vertical section on the line F G, Fig. 2.

The general appearance oft-he axle-box proper does not differ materially from those in ordinary use, myimprovements relating to details of construction hereinafter described.

In the top of the box, above the hard-metal bearing for the axle, is an oil-reservoir, a, hermetically closed by means ofa lid screwed down onto the reservoir by screws. This lid is provided with an aperture, 1), for pouring in the oil, and hermetically closed bya screw-plug, c. In the bottom of the reservoir, above the center of the bearing, is fitted an automatic lubricating 7 device, consisting of a hollow brass plug, 01, and

acentral steel pin, 6, Fig. 1, passing through an opening in the bearing and resting on the axle. The opening in the brass plug tapers slightly upward toward the reservoir, the diameter of the narrowest part of the opening being 0.175 inches, (4.5 millimeters) and the angle of inclination of the sides 1.5 degrees. The diameter of the pin e is 0.156 inches, (4. millimeters.) With these proportions of the parts of the automaticlubricator from twenty to twentyeight drams of oil pass to the axle from the reservoir per thousand miles traveled by the carwheel. Of this quantity of oil about four to eight drains are lost and sixteen to twenty drams remain and are collected in the lower part of the box. Thereservoir a. will hold about 2.25 pounds of oil.

In case the bearing becomes hot the heat will be quickly communicated to the automatic lubricating device and to the oil and air in the reservoir, since the bottom of the reservoir of the steel pin, the space between the sides of the bung d and the pin e will be increased and a more abundant flow of oil will follow.

This is increased, also, by the expansion of the oiland theincreased pressure of the air. Thus the higher the temperature of the axle the greater the flow of oil.

In order to prevent sand, dust, or other extraneous matters which might enter the reservoir while pouring in the oil from obstructing the lubricating device and penetrating to the axle, I apply to the plug d a perforated cap, 2',

Fig. 2. The outside of this cap is wrapped with athickness of slightly-twisted woolen yarn. Thus all particles of hard matter will be retained at the bottom of the reservoir a, near the cap 5. i

At the rearend of the box is avertical groove, to which is adapted a wooden disk closely embracing the axle. This disk consists of two parts-an upper half,f, provided with a groove, to which is adapted a tenon on the lower half, I. When the parts are new this tenon enters the groove only for about a quarter of an inch; but as the portions in contact with the axle wear away the two halves of the disk can approach each other without any obstacle.

The two halves of the disk are pressed onto the axle toward each other by springs 0 and p, and arekept in place by an iron brace, m. Both halves of the disk are 1)1"O"l(l0tl with grooves or recesses 02 n at the parts in contact with the axle, and in these grooves areinserted loose twists saturated with tallow, for greasing the contact-faces of the disks. For the same purpose the two halves of the disk should be thoroughly oiled before putting the box together.

1n the lower part ofthe boxis formed a chamber or recess, in which is arranged, on light springs, a woolen brush somewhat similar to those sometimes employed in the. ordinary boxes for carrying oil up to the axle. In the also carries off the superfluous dirty oil from the axle, and as the oil descends through the brush it is collected in a more or less purified condition at the bottom of the box.

For filtering the oil the sieve-like plate '2' is arranged on the sides of the recess at the bottom of the box, and on this plate is laid some soft felt or a layer of woolen yarn and then a. piece of cloth.

The brush is provided with wicks reaching to the bottom of the box, so that when the supply of oil in the reservoir is exhausted the oil in the lower part of the box will serve for some time to lubricate the axle by capillary attraction and prevent the axle from becoming hot.

To prevent the woolen brush from being pressed too tightly against the axle and entirely removing the oil therefrom, the brush is provided with two wooden bearers, Z Z, Figs. 1 and 2, about one eighth of an inch below the face of the brush.

In the reservoir a, Fig. 2, is fixed the vertical rod t, on which fits freely the movable brass tube 8, provided at its lower end with a ring of cork, which, at the time the reservoir is filled, will rise and raise with it the tube 8, the latter projecting through the aperture 1) so long as thelatter remains unclosed. The outside ot'the tube may have suitable graduationmarks-say, half-pound divisions-on it, so that by unscrewing the plug a the attendant can readily ascertain how much oil there is in the box.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination of the axle-bearing and oil-reservoir with the hollow plug of brass and the steel pin passing through the brass plug, whereby, on an increase in the temperature, the supply of oil will increase,substantially as described.

2. The combination of the axle and axle-box with two-part disk f I, having grooves n n, for the reception of some loose greasing material, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of the axle and axle-box with the two-part dislrfl, one part having a tenon adapted to a groove in the other, and the brace m and springs 0 p.

at. The combination of the axle and axle-box with brush-bearing on the under side of the axle, and bearers Z Z, as and for the purpose described.

5. The combination of the axle and axle-box with a reservoir above the axle and an automatic lubricator having a perforated cap and fibrous covering, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination of the oil-reservoir on the axle-box, having a fixed rod, t, witha tube, s, and float, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereotI have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALEXANDER KONSTANTINOFF.

Witnesses FREDERICK KAUPE, NICHOLAS TSGHEXALOFF. 

